« February 2011 | Main | April 2011 »
Just about once a day, usually in the morning, I go out in my backyard with my camera in tow and I just start shooting. Everyday there is always something different and new blooming. And if I stay focused on one bush or plant long enough, a fun little friend will usually come and visit.
This practice is what I call ... "photo warm-ups".
|
|
As I was standing at my kitchen sink this morning looking out at my backyard, I noticed a tiny little hummingbird fluttering around. I grabbed my camera, changed out the lens to my telephoto and tiptoed out the backdoor.
He was hovering right above my avocado tree in search of fresh nectar from the trumpet vine that has found its way into the tree.
Then he landed on a branch and sat there for what seemed like an eternity. He puffed himself up,
gave a quick little tweet,
then stuck out his tongue. He was so entertaining to watch ...
and so adorable especially when viewed through my telephoto lens.
Oh, for the love of hummingbirds and my telephoto lens!
Happy Shooting!
|
|
I've been a busy girl these days: quilting, appliqueing, shooting a few books and ... watching some great high school baseball games. I set deadlines and goals for myself and when I meet a deadline or reach a goal I treat myself to a little crafting time.
With the stained paper towels still sitting on my work table, I just grabbed a few pieces and got to work crafting this morning. I started by rubber stamping a few towels with a butterfly and honeycomb motifs.
These cards are so satisfying and quick, I love working on this smaller size collage.
Here's what you do:
Gather used paper towels that have been stained with paint and glitter and iron them flat. Stamp paper towels with desired images.
Cut the paper towel into 1" squares and arrange them on a rectangle panel and adhere with spray adhesive.
On the back, iron a panel of freezer paper to give the paper towel some stability, and punch out flower motifs.
Using spray adhesive, adhere the panel to a watercolor paper card and free motion stitch around the paper towels and the flowers. Doodle on the card with white and pink sparkle pens.
Happy Crafting!
|
|
According to Jenny, my husband and I are the most Japanese people she has ever met. My husband even does the appropriate head nod and slight bow when he greets someone.
Back in August of 2008 our family, along with my dear friends Shigeru and Cliff, went on vacation to Japan. Even though my husband works there much of the time, even for him, to travel up to the northern part of the island, was a real treat.
We traveled on the Shinkansen, through farmlands and valleys, visiting sleepy villages, taking in some museums, local food and of course we manged to see some wonderful summer festivals.
The city of Sendai was one of the most spectacular stops of our travels. For one week during the month of August, Sendai celebrates with the Tanabata festival.
Gorgeous decorations made from folded Japanese paper, are hung up in the walk way, or arcade of this shopping venue. There must be over one thousand of these huge decorations lined up in the walk way.
Some of these decorations hang way down, almost touching the ground and we got to walk right through them.
Here are my kids Corry and Cameron and my friends, Shigeru and Cliff.
And because of the festival and celebration, young girls were dressed in their traditional clothing and loving this photo opp with my boys.
So sweet and oh so beautiful.
As the day wore on we became a bit hungry and you know, we had to try it, just to make sure that it tasted the same ... right?
Notice that they even had a Claire's in Sendai ... and look how adorable this employee is!
Cameron was feeling brave at this point.
Then there were the sleepy side streets, with little decorations, and business as usual.
We captured several shots of random phrases ... and yes I did bring back a collection of great socks.
And then it was off to our ryokan for a great nights rest.
Love to the Yaji family ...
Love to Yoshiko with a baby on the way ...
and love to Tadashi ...
Keeping you close to our hearts and constantly in our prayers ...
The Shaffer Family
|
|
My husband Scott is in Japan. Thank you for all the prayers and good thoughts ... it looks like he will be able to return on Tuesday!
Strange as it may seem, with thoughts of Japan heaving on my heart, I did craft anyways.
You see, a small package arrived in the mail from my friend Jen Osborn. The package was post marked March 8th, and I received it today, March 12th.
Jen writes me a little note and tells me she would like to know more about my husband's work in Japan and that she studied Japanese in college and visited once. The timing of her note and package are truly remarkable ...
And so I went to work on a small collage while thinking of my husband and my friends that live in Japan. I used lots of fabric that Jen had sent, some are very Japanese, and then added the painted paper towels that were still lying on my table. I grabbed some paper fabric I had made from Danita's class, and of course, some watercolor pencils and had my sewing machine ready to go to work for me.
At first I was going to make a cover for a journal that I use every day, but then I got to thinking that it might look cute hanging from the tiny paper lantern that Jen sent along in her package.
So ... I'm not really sure how or where this collage piece will end up but I do know that every time I look at it I will think of the resilient people in Japan and will keep them close to my heart and in my prayers.
|
|
Of all the treasures and info I took away from last Saturday's workshop with Lisa Englebrecht, I must say that these paper towels are high on that list.
My job description included cleaner and helper and so I was eager to gather and "throw away" all the old and discarded paper towels that everyone was using to blot their fabric.
Oh my ... the colors and textures are to die for. Really, some of the shapes and designs that happened could never have been planned.
At one point during the day these paper towels were actually taken out to the trash ... I had to dig them out ... so worth it! After I got home, I did lay the towels out to dry ...
And so ... here are a few art projects made from these fabulous painted paper towels. I guess I have patchwork on my mind ... hmmm ... wonder why?
This is probably my favorite ... I was moving fast here and not really thinking, kind of just doing. A little rubber stamping, a little free motion stitching, and a little gold ink rubbing.
And then I added a bit of linen, just to mix it up a bit.
And more free motion doodling and a little extra punch with my new favorite glitter and white gel pens ... Uniball Signo pens, love them!
Then I started rummaging around in a bin of odds and ends and came across a free motion stitched alphabet.
Here's what you do:
Gather used paper towels that have been stained with paint and glitter. Iron lightly to flatten.
Cut the paper towels up into 1" squares and arrange in a patchwork pattern on a panel using a temporary spray adhesive.
Next, stitch around the squares and then add so doodles of scallops, dots and hearts. Color in with glitter pens.
Oh, and attach free motion stitched heart to the corner then attach to a folded card and stamp a small word in the corner.
Ok, so ... the sky is the limit here ... and ... I am in love!
With love ... your free motion friend!
|
|
With few words and a lot of pictures I want to show you what I learned today at a fabulous workshop taught by Ms. Lisa Englebrecht, calligrapher and multi-media artitst extraordinaire.
The workshop, Shimmer and Sparkle, was held at the home studio of Jenny Doh, with such a great group of eager and excited learners ...
Here's Jenny giving everyone the 'welcome and feel at home please' speech ...
And Lisa demonstrating her lettering styles with a great variety of paint, inks, and markers ...
And a few of the eager learners ...
A demo by Lisa using this really fun Parallel Pen ...
And Christine, already a letter arts person, but wanting to learn even more from Lisa ...
Here's Melody Nunez with a bouquet of purple scissors in front of her ...
Everyone hard at work ...
Davi Huffman ...
With her friend Ann Deakers ...
And Sue ...
Although my main job today was to be an aid and helper for Lisa and Jenny, I did sit down for a few minutes and played with some fluid acrylic washes ...
Then I added some gold leaf ...
I had Christine write a little word on my panel ...
And this panel got a little silver leaf and bit of free motion stitching ...
Oh, and then I went shopping in Jenny's studio and loaded up on some must have lettering markers and pens ...
Thanks Lisa and Jenny for such a great day ...
Happy learning ... happy lettering!
|
|
If you have tried it, then you know what I mean: free motion stitching is soooo addicting!
While cleaning up my studio today, I came across a pile of random free motion stitched parts and pieces.
Lots of stitching on this tan and red jute webbing.
And here's more traditional design with a twist ...
a free motion stitched translucent pennant ...
and two layers of burlap stitched together with free motion stitched swirls and circles ... just because!
Happy Free Motion Stitching!
|
|
So ... my kids always say ... "It's not fair that dad gets to eat sushi every night when he's in Japan."
I say ... "He might be eating sushi every night, but I would bet you anything that it is not decorated like this sushi!"... Look what's for dinner tonight Corry and Cameron!
Nori punched with craft punches ... little hearts, stars, mini leaves and large flower, decorating this beautiful fresh fish, avocado and rice ... Love fish!
Oh ... and a caterpillar with nori antenna and polka dot punched skin ... Love him!
And then there's the lotus blossom with nori punched flowers and a marble size piece of lime green heaven ... Love wasabi!
California rolls and Philadelphia rolls on top of nori flowers ...
Hand cut birds sitting on nests of rice, avocado, and cucumber ...
Scallop punched nori doily with punched circles ... just because I can.
No real tutorial needed here, but I did want to show you all the punches I used to decorate dinner.
Easy peasy ...
Here's a little tip I have ... keep the nori cool and dry, it can get soft and limp fast. I punched these decorations out a few days ago, then bagged them and kept them in the refrigerator until minutes before I served dinner.
Oh and don't forget the chopstitck ... here's a shot of my collection ... oh, the red and green pencil ones ... they belong to my kids.
Hope you enjoyed dinner Corry and Cameron!
|
|
